Flash Freeze Causes Traffic Chaos in Toronto

A freezing drizzle advisory was in effect for Toronto, York, and Durham regions on the evening of the traffic chaos, with Environment Canada warning of icy surfaces as temperatures dropped. The hazardous conditions were a direct result of drizzle and blowing snow freezing on contact with the pavement, creating slick, dangerous roads. The core of the problem was a classic flash freeze, where a rapid drop in temperature causes wet road surfaces to quickly turn to ice. Hourly weather data from that evening shows temperatures hovering right around the freezing mark, dropping from 0.0°C to -0.7°C between 7 p.m. and 11 p.m., creating ideal conditions for the formation of hard-to-see black ice. OPP Sgt. Kerry Schmidt described the conditions as "very slippery," with the flash freeze leading to multiple closures and collisions. Incidents were widespread across the region's major arteries, with dozens of collisions reported in the northeast GTA alone. Key highway sections were shut down to manage the accidents, including the eastbound Highway 407 at Warden and northbound lanes of Highway 404 at Bloomington. In Pickering, multiple collisions and vehicles in ditches forced the closure of Highway 7 between Whites and Brock Roads. The danger was highlighted by an incident on Highway 407 near Warden Avenue, where a person who had gotten out of their car after a previous collision was struck by another vehicle. The individual was transported to the hospital with minor injuries, prompting police to issue a reminder for motorists to remain in their vehicles if involved in a highway collision. Both York Regional Police and Durham Regional Police joined the OPP in urging motorists to avoid driving due to the hazardous road conditions. The freezing drizzle advisory from Environment Canada remained in effect until it was lifted shortly after 11:45 p.m. that night.